A MOTORCYCLE dealership which drew enthusiasts from all over the country has gone into administration.

The family behind Three Cross Motorcycles said the coronavirus lockdown had caused a “catastrophic cash flow crisis” and dealt a “final blow” to the business.

Administrators are seeking a buyer for the business, based at Woolsbridge Industrial Estate near Three Legged Cross.

In a statement on Facebook that drew hundreds of replies, Richard, Lisa, Keith and Gloria Davies wrote: "Three Cross has a long and proud history in the motorcycle business, associated with brands including Cagiva, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Laverda, Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, MV Agusta, Peugeot Scooters, Triumph and Yamaha, plus many more besides.

"It's been a rollercoaster ride, filled with great stories and so many achievements, together with some lows and exceptional challenges.

"For over 40 years we withstood the hard knocks that came our way, but the final blow from Covid-19 has brought us down.

"After two hard years, we had restructured and, by the end of February, we were on target, with a healthy order book for March/April delivery. However, our expectations of a springtime recovery were swept away by the Covid-19 virus and subsequent government lockdown, which caused a catastrophic cash-flow crisis, from which there was no way back.

"We need to thank our staff for their loyalty and commitment over the years – without these wonderful people, none of the Three Cross Story would have been possible.

"And we would also like to thank you, our customers. We're on first name terms with so many of you and it's always a pleasure to welcome you to our showroom or to bump into you at one of our events.

"It's goodbye for now and we hope that motorcycling continues to give you as much pleasure as it's given us over the years."

KRE Corporate Recovery of Reading has been appointed as administrators.

Days earlier, KRE announced it anticipated being appointed as administrators to a motorcycle dealership supplying the public and other dealers.

It said the company had 21 full-time staff and one part-time employee and turned over £6.9million in 2019.

Three Cross Motorcycles had held the Triumph motorcycle franchise for Dorset since 1991 and began importing Peugeot scooters in 1995, supplying to around 200 dealers, the trade publication British Dealer News reported.

In 2009, Keith Davies told the Daily Echo how he sold his house to buy a small second-hand motorbike dealership in 1978.

The business became one of the biggest on the south coast, attracting customers from across the UK.

He said then: “Three Cross Motorcycles started trading bikes in 1977, but back then the owner was just trading a few second hand bikes and the garage was still functioning as a working petrol station.

“Three Cross were one of my customers as a sales rep and at one meeting I asked the owner what was wrong and he said he’d had enough and wanted to move to Spain.”

He added: “Of course it was a massive risk at the time but it had been a lifelong dream of mine to own a motorbike dealership so I went for it.”

“We basically live, eat and breathe motorcycles here and I have been very lucky to have spent 30 years working with the love of my life and my family, who are all heavily involved in the business,” he added.